Installation for flame starter devices

ABSTRACT

An arrangement for a flame starter installation in aircompressing internal combustion engine, which includes an electric switch that permits the continued operation of the flame starter installation after the starting operation of the engine only when the engine rotational speed does not drop below a predetermined engine rotational speed.

United States atent 1191 1111 3,760,783 Frankle 5 Sept. 25, 1973 INSTALLATION FOR FLAME STARTER 3,656,465 4/1972 Frankle 123 179 11 DE 3,630,183 12/1971 Hofiman.. 123/179 H 3,526,214 9/1970 Kamo 123/179 H [75] Inventor: Gerard Frankle, Grunback, Germany [73] Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft, Primary Examiner LaurencF Goodridge Stuttgart, Germany Assistant Examiner-Cort Flmt Attorney-Craig, Antonelli & Hill ,[22] F1led: Nov. 19, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 200,395

. [57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 21, 1970 Germany P 20 57 309.5 An arrangement for a flame starter installation in aircompressing internal combustion engine, which in- [52] US. Cl. 123/179 H, 123/122 G cludes an electric switch that permits the continued op- [51] Int. Cl. F02m 31/04 eration of the flame starter installation after the starting [5 8] Field of Search 123/ 179 H, 122 G operation of the engine only when the engine rotational speed does not drop below a predetermined engine ro- [56] References Cited tational speed.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,687,122 8/1972 Kamo 123/179 H 10 C1aims, 1 Drawing Figure 1 INSTALLATION FOR FLAME STARTER DEVICES The present invention relates to an installation for a flame starter device provided for the atomization and ignition of fuels in air-compressing internal combustion engines.

The flame starter installations provided for the improvement of the starting behavior in internal combustion engines, which effect an increase of the suction-air temperature by the fuel combusted in the air suction pipe of an internal combustion engine, are known as such in the prior art.

However, these flame starter installations fulfill not only the task to overcome the starting difficulties which occur when starting with a cold engine, but can also be always set into operation in connection with multi-fuel engines when the compression-end-temperature is too low.

The present invention is concerned with the task to improve in a most simple manner installations of such types of flame starter devices as regards the operational readiness and the delay-free operation.

Accordingly, the present invention proposes that the installation includes an electric switch which permits the operation of the flame starter installation after the starting of the internal combustion engine only as long as the engine rotational speed does not drop below a predetermined minimum rotational speed.

As a further feature of the present invention, the rotational speed monitor may be arranged in parallel to the starter switch.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the switch is adapted to be influenced by the regulator or governor of the injection pump of the internal combustion engine, for example, by the centrifugal governer.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a flame starter installation which avoids by simple means the aforementioned shortcomings and drawbacks encountered in the prior art.

Another object of the present inventoin resides in an arrangement for flame starter installations which considerably improves the operational readiness thereof and simultaneously assures a delay-free operation by simple means.

A further object of the present invention resides in an arrangement for flame starter installations which is reliable in operation to prevent continued operation of the installation when the engine stalls, yet utilizes relatively few extra and ixpensive parts.

These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows, for purposes of illustration only, one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and wherein The single FIGURE is a schematic circuit diagram of an arrangement of a flane starter installation in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the circuit diagram of the single FIGURE, a conventional feed pump 1 dependent on several operating magnitudes and control magnitudes is provided in the circuit diagram illustrated in the drawing, which supplies a flame starter installation (not shown in the drawing) with fuel. Since the flame starter installation is of conventional construction and forms no part of the present invention, a detailed description thereof is dispensed with herein.

During the actuation of a starter switch 2, a relay: 3 is energized which turns on the feed pump 1 and thus sets into operation the flame starter installation. During this operation, a thermostat 4 arranged between the starter relay 2 and the relay 3 and responding only to a water temperature of about 50 C., remains closed at first by reason of the excessively low temperature of the water as can be seen from the position thereof illustrated in the drawing.

Even though after the termination of the starting operation, the starter switch 2 opens at about an engine rotational speed of 600 rpm, the operation of the flame starter installation is maintained by a rotational speed monitor or automatic speed controller 5 connected in parallel with the starter switch 2 and of any known construction. The automatic rotational speed controller 5 which serves as safety means for the flame starter installation, permits the continued operation of this installation and the continued injection of the fuel and the combustion by a spark gap 6 in the air suction pipe only as long as the engine rotational speed does not drop below a minimum engine rotational speed of about 300 to 400 rpm. The ignition spark is produced, for example, by a conventional interrupter 7 built into the supply pump 1 and by way of an ignition coil 8 with a series resistance.

The travel of the controller of an injection pump, for example, a centrifugal governor is utilized as characteristic magnitude for the engine rotational speed. This characteristic magnitude is fed to a switch, namely to the rotational speed controller or monitor 5.

Possibly also a voltage relay dependent on the vehicle generator voltage, on the so-called starting curve of the dynamo or alternator can be utilized as characteristic magnitude.

If after a corresponding period of warm-up of the internal combustion engine, the engine water temperature thereof has risen to about 50 C., the flame starter installation is disconnected and turned off by way of the thermostat 4 which now opens.

The arrangement made in accordance with the pres ent invention to equip the installation with a rotational speed controller or monitor, assures an instantaneous turning off of the flame starter installation if after the starting operation the internal combustion engine stalls.

While I have shown and described only one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known to those skilled in the art and I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

I. An arrangement for a flame starter installation in an air-compressing internal combustion engine which is provided for the atomization and ignition of fuel, characterized in that the installation includes control circuit means for controlling the operation of the flame starter installation and for permitting continued operation of the flame starter installation after the starting of the internal combustion engine in accordance with at least one engine operating parameter, the control circuit means including engine sped responsive electric switch means for preventing the continued operation of the flame starter installation after the starting of the internal combustion engine in response to the engine rotational speed dropping below a predetermined minimum rotational speed.

2. An installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the switch means is arranged in parallel to a starter switch of the control circuit means.

3. An installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the engine includes an injection pump with control means and the switch means is controllable by said control means.

4. An installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the control means includes a centrifugal governor.

5. An installation according to claim 4, characterized in that the control circuit means includes a thermostatic switch normally closed with a water temperature of the engine below a predetermined temperature and connected in series with the parallel arrangement of the starter switch and the switch means.

6. An installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the engine includes an injection pump with control means and the switch means is controllable by said control means.

7. An installation according to claim 6, characterized in that the control means includes a centrifugal governor.

8. An installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the control circuit means includes a thermostatic switch normally closed with a water temperature of the engine below a predetermined temperature and connected in series with the parallel arrangement of the starter switch and the switch means.

9. An installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the predetermined minimum rotational speed is about 300-400 rpm.

10. An installation according to claim 8, characterized in that the predetermined water temperature is about 50 C. 

1. An arrangement for a flame starter installation in an aircompressing internal combustion engine which is provided for the atomization and ignition of fuel, characterized in that the installation includes control circuit means for controlling the operation of the flame starter installation and for permitting continued operation of the flame starter installation after the starting of the internal combustion engine in accordance with at least one engine operating parameter, the control circuit means including engine sped responsive electric switch means for preventing the continued operation of the flame starter installation after the starting of the internal combustion engine in response to the engine rotational speed dropping below a predetermined minimum rotational speed.
 2. An installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the switch means is arranged in parallel to a starter switch of the control circuit means.
 3. An installation according to claim 2, characterized iN that the engine includes an injection pump with control means and the switch means is controllable by said control means.
 4. An installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the control means includes a centrifugal governor.
 5. An installation according to claim 4, characterized in that the control circuit means includes a thermostatic switch normally closed with a water temperature of the engine below a predetermined temperature and connected in series with the parallel arrangement of the starter switch and the switch means.
 6. An installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the engine includes an injection pump with control means and the switch means is controllable by said control means.
 7. An installation according to claim 6, characterized in that the control means includes a centrifugal governor.
 8. An installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the control circuit means includes a thermostatic switch normally closed with a water temperature of the engine below a predetermined temperature and connected in series with the parallel arrangement of the starter switch and the switch means.
 9. An installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the predetermined minimum rotational speed is about 300-400 rpm.
 10. An installation according to claim 8, characterized in that the predetermined water temperature is about 50* C. 